Spooling machine for ribbons for typewriters and the like



Aug. 17; 1954 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 Fig. 1

Sheefl J. E. HORVAT SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE 11 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Joseph E. Horva't WHITEHEAD 8| VOGL ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1954 .1. E. HORVAT SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

m m VL E rG M 00 o H T T .8 A EM E w s:n OH w R V. F. BP

SheefZ Aug. 17, 1954 J. E. HORVAT 2,586,533

SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Flled Aug. 14, 1950 ll Sheets-$heet 3 so W D I #3 282 gal s? s2 Fig. 48 F ig. 9 INVEA'TOR.

Joseph E. Horvat BY WHITEHEAD a VOGL PER QM"; W X

isheefs ATTORNEY? 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. E. HORVAT SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE mi f flow v mmJ Q2 7 (/ON km A W. F O \x E 0 V I .E W H a h w a 6 I E o mm m 00m mm M o J59 nan mm iiL. N9 mi MI, W 8N o2 m \mm I m O M 02 m! fim hm mh J mmw m! i 4 m 4 I I M .H m h. an Wm B 3 E 3 .6 om B Aug. 17, 1954 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 PER M m ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1954 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 J- E. HORVAT SPOOL-ING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 sheaf 5 IN VEN TOR.

Joseph E. Horvat BY WHITEHEAD a VOGL PERM ATTORNE Y5 7,1954 J E HORVAT 2,686,638

SPOOLING-MAICI-IINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Joseph E. Horvat BY WHITEHEAD 8| VGGL PER g Z W $hee76 ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1954 E HQRVAT 2,686,638

SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet '1 Fig. 18 54 INVENTOR.

Joseph E. Horvazr BY .WHITEHEAD 8 VOGL 5522 I ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1954 J. E. HORVAT 2,686,638

SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 K w Fig. 20'

2M 227 230 z a/ R 235 23 243 s 24 In I Fig. 23

IN VEN TOR.

Joseph E. Horvat BY WHITEHEAD 8| VPGL PER 4M1; MM

S/reef a ATTORNEYS J HORVAT Aug. 17, 1954 E.

SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 262 I 2 F Fig. 52

1 us "3 S a: 250 "8 m 249 1 Fig. 49

Fig. 5! 248 '245' INVENTOR.

, Joseph E. Horvar g BY WHITEHEAD a VOGL PER mlpm/ ATTORNEYS 247 .Sbeel 9 J. E. HORVAT 2,686,638 SFOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 EN; 8 INVENTOR.

i I I 246 Joseph E. Horvuf 253 253 257 5a BY WHITEHEAD a VOGL PER W ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1954 J. E. HORVAT 2,686,638

SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE F'iledAug. 14, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet ll INVEYTQR. Joseph E. Horvcn Y WHITEHEAD a yoex. PER 6031f! Sheet H m ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 SPOOLING MACHINE FOR RIBBON S FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Joseph E. Horvat, Denver, 0010.

Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,138

16 Claims.

This invention relates to ribbon winding machines, and more particularly to such machines which are adapted for winding ribbon upon spools, such as conventional typewriter spools, and has as an object to provide a machine which will automatically wind ribbon from a supply reel onto a conventional typewriter ribbon spool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will automatically wind ribbon from a supply reel onto a spool such as a typewriter ribbon spool, and which is further adapted to ink the ribbon as it is wound upon the spool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will automatically wind a measured length of ribbon from a supply reel onto a conventional typewriter ribbon spool, and then automatically cut the ribbon and discharge the full spool from the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ribbon winding machine which will receive a conventional typewriter ribbon spool and will automatically engage the end of a ribbon from a supply reel onto the spool as an incident of winding the ribbon upon the spool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic ribbon winding machine which will sequentially receive conventional typewriter ribbon spools and wind ribbon from a supply reel onto said spools to thereby provide a continuous operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus in an automatic ribbon winding machine which is adapted to contain a plurality of conventional typewriter ribbon spools, and which is further adapted to align and feed said spools individually and sequentially into the ribbon winding machine to thereby provide spools for a continuous ribbon winding operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus in an automatic ribbon winding machine adapted to sequentially feed typewriter ribbon spools into the machine which is further adapted to accommodate various types of conventional typewriter spools now common to the trade.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a continuous automatic ribbon winding machine, means adapted to discharge fully wound typewriter ribbon spools from the machine in regular order suitable for easy handling and packaging.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an automatic ribbon winding machine, a control system which is responsive to the ribbon movements, whereby the machine will stop operation whenever any element fails to operate properly, or Whenever the ribbon or spool supply is depleted.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved ribbon winding machine adapted for inking and winding ribbon upon conventional typewriter spools, which is fully automatic and continuous in operation, rapid in action, positive in all movements, adapted for easy maintenance, sturdy and rugged in construction, and operable over an extremely long production life.

With these and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of elements and parts, as hereinafter described and as defined in the appended claims, and illustrated, in preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a top view of the machine.

Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation as viewed in the direction of the indicated arrow 2 at Fig. 1.

Figure 3 (Sheet 3) is an end elevation :as viewed in the direction of the indicated arrow 3 at Fig. 1.

Figure 4 (Sheet 4) is a central longitudinal section as taken substantially on the indicated line 44 at Fig. 1.

Figure 5 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, as taken substantially on the indicated line 5-5 at Fig. 2.

Figure 6 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary detail of elements as illustrated at Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale, and viewed substantially from the indicated arrow at Fig. 2.

Figure 7 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary detail, partly in section to show otherwise hidden elements, as viewed from the indicated line 1-4 at Fig. 6.

Figure 8 (Sheet 5) is a section, on a further enlarged scale, as taken on the indicated line 8-8 at Fig. 6.

Figure 9 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary section, on

an enlarged scale, as taken substantially on the indicated line 9-4? at Fig. 1.

Figure 10 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary section taken on the indicated line iii-4B at Fig. 9.

Figure 11 (Sheet 6) is a fragmentary detail of a portion of the elements illustrated at Fig. 4, but on an enlarged scale, and taken substantially on the indicated line i !II at Fig. 1 so most of the elements do not appear in section. The broken lines therein indicate alternate positions of the elements so depicted.

Figure 12 (Sheet 6) is a fragmentary section as taken on the indicated line l2--l2 at Fig. 11. Figure 13 (Sheet 6') is a fragmentary section as taken on the indicated line ill-l3 at Fig. 11. Figure 14 (Sheet 6) is a fragmentary section as taken on the indicated line i ll i at Fig. 11. Figure 15 (Sheet 6) is a fragmentary section and plan of elements as taken and viewed on the indicated line l5-l5 at Fig. 11.

Figure 16 (Sheet 6) is an enlarged view of a ribbon pick-up needle which is illustrated in position with other elements at Figs. 11, 13, and 15.

Figural? (Sheet 6) is a further enlarged iso metric view of the head of the needle illustrated at Fig. 15.

Figure 18 (Sheet 7) is a rear side elevation of the machine as viewed substantially on the indicated line l8-l& at Fig. 1, with certain ,ele ments at the end of the machine shown other views being omitted to conserve space. I Figure 19 (Sheet "1) is a section taken substan tially on the indicated line iii-49 at Fig. 18 and illustrates spindle driving elements of the machine, in section, but illustrates the spindle head associated therewith full to better show its re lation with the driving elements.

Figure 20 (Sheet 8) is a section, on an enlarged scale, of the spindle head itself, as taken substan tially on the indicated line iii-29 at Fig. l, the rotating parts within the head being illustrated in full to better show their relation with the head, and other elements being rotated to positions to better illustrate the construction of radially disposed parts therein.

Figure 21 (Sheet 8) is a fragmentary section, on a further enlarged scale, as taken on the indicated line 2l2! at Fig. 20.

Figure 22 (Sheet 8) is a fragmentary detail of the elements of Fig. 21 as viewed from the indicated arrow 22 at Fig. 20.

Figure 23 (Sheet 8) is a fragmentary section as taken substantially on the indicated line 23-23 at Fig.20.

Figure 24 (Sheet 8) is a fragmentary section, on a further enlarged scale, as taken substantially on the indicated line 25-24 at Fig. 23.

Figure 25 (Sheet 9) is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, as taken substantially on the indicated line 2525 at Fig. 19.

Figure 26 (Sheet 10) is a fragmentary section and plan of ribbon cutting and spool feeding elements astaken substantially on the indicated line 2t-2i at Fig. 3.

Figure 27 (Sheet i0) is a fragmentary section as taken substantially on the indicated line 2l-2' at Fig. 26.

Figure 28 (Sheet 10) is a fragmentary section as taken substantially on the indicated line 28-23 at Fig. 26.

Figure 29 (Sheet 10) is a fragmentary section of elements illustrated at 3s and taken sub'-' stantially on the indicated line 252 312 at Fig. 26. Figure 33 (Sheet 10) is a fragmentary section as taken substantially on the indicated line 33-33 at Fig. 30.

Figure 34 (Sheet 9) is a fragmentary section of ca-mming elements as taken substantially on Figure 37 (Sheet 9) is a fragmentary section as 7 taken substantially on the indicated line 3l-3l at Fig. 18.

Figure 38 (Sheet 9) is a fragmentary section as taken substantially on the indicated line 33-38 at Fig. 37.

Figures 39 throughxl i (Sheet 11) are diagrammatic illustrations of ribbon winding, cutting, threading elements illustrating in sequence varous steps of operation. 7 V

Figure (Sheet 3) is an elevation of a conventional typewriter ribbon spool as viewed along the axis thereof.

Figure 46 (Sheet 3) is an elevation of the spool illustrated at Fig-45 but viewed transversely to the axis thereof.

Figure 47 (Sheet 11) is an enlarged portion of a conventional spool, in section, and the ribbon pick-up needle, also in section, illustrating the positioning of the needle and spool at the instant the ribbon is transferred from the needle onto the spool. V

Figure 48 (Sheet 3) is a wiring diagram of the various circuits in the machine.

Figure 49 (Sheet 9) is an alternate construction of a conventional typewriter ribbon spool.

Figure 50 (Sheet 8) is an alternate construction of a spindle element adapted to receive a typewriter ribbon spool illustrated at Fig. it).

Figure 51 (Sheet9) is a plan view of an alternate form of a spcol-feedin mechanism adapted to receive the spool illustrated at Fig. 49.

Fi ure 52( Sheet 9) a section as taken substantially on the indicated line 52-52 at Fig. 51.

The demand for replacements of typewriter ribbon has caused the development of a large industry devoted to making typewriter ribbon spools, hereinafter referred to as spools, and to typewriter ribbons hereinafter referred to as ribbon. In the present state of the art the ribbon is furnished in reels having perhaps as much as 450 yards, and designated ribbon lengths of 9 to 18 yards, taken from this reel, are inked and wound upon a spool to provide a typewriter ribbon replacement unit. Although various ribbon inking means have been devised, and some winding aids have been developed, the inking and winding of a designated length of ribbon upon a spool is largely a hand operation, and heretofore no known equipment or machinery has been developed which unreels, inks and winds the ribbon onto a plurality of spools as a continuous operation.

There are several factors which in the past appeared to make such a machine impractical. First, where the ribbon is being payed from the reel continuously, but at intermittent rates, such as necessitated by changing spools, a ribbon inking means must be devised which applies ink uniformly to the ribbon at all times, in a manner to saturate the ribbon at a uniform predetermined consistency. Means must also be devised which wind the measured length of ribbon upon the spool, then out the ribbon therefrom and discharge the Wound spool, followed by the automatic connection of the ribbon to and winding it upon another spool to repeat the process. Since there are a'number of different types of spools for use on various makes of typewriters, each radically different in construction, it has not, in the past, appeared feasible to devise an automatic winding machine adapted to accommodate all of the various different types of spools. Yet in the present invention means have been conceived and developed to provide the various functions of inking, connecting, winding, cutting and discharging the wound spools successively as a continuous operation with various types of spools, as hereinafter described, in a preferred embodiment of my invention.

This machine is formed of a combination of mechanisms which cooperatively act to ink and wind typewriter ribbon material R upon a spool S and comprises a ribbon unreeling apparatus U, a ribbon inking apparatus I, a ribbon spool engaging apparatus E, a ribbon winding apparatus W, a spool feeding apparatus F, a ribbon cutting apparatus C, and a discharging apparatus D. All of these apparatuses are operatively linked with actuating and camming apparatus, hereinafter described.

The elements constituting the machine are suitably mounted upon a common base 69 and are carried and held in position by framework mem bers 6i upstanding said base. Two frame members 6! are oriented in spaced parallelism to the ribbon C and at opposite sides thereof to support therebetween various shafts, holding rollers and other elements over which the ribbon R passes. Other frame members act as journals to hold and properly orient other various members and mechanisms in their operative association with the entire unit. All elements are arranged to be operatively synchronized and run by a single motor 62, in a manner hereinafter described, said motor being preferably an electrical unit which will stop responsive to the opening of various switches as hereinafter described.

The ribbon unrecling apparatus (Details at Figs. 5-8) A conventional typewriter ribbon reel 63 comprises a substantial length of typewriter ribbon R wound around a cylindrical shell 54 to form a disc-shaped unit. This reel 63 and shell 54 are mounted upon journaling elements which are in turn held upon a rod 65 transversely interposed between and through the frame members ii i and said reel is further positioned and held between plate wheels 56 which prevent its distortion. The rod 65 is threaded at each end and hand nuts 6'! are turned on the ends to rigidly connect the frame members 6i. These nuts Bl bear against bosses 68 of the frame members 6i through which the rod 65 extends, and are removable to permit withdrawal of rod $5 and removal of the reel assembly from the frame as for recharging. The rod 55 is reinforced, and the frame members 6 l are rigidly spaced, by a shoulder shaft lid, concentrically slidable over rod 85, the ends of which bear against the inner walls of said frame members to provide a stable unit about which the reel may rotate. The plate wheels 66, with the reel 63 between, are mounted upon a cylindrical journal 10 which, in turn, is slidably and rotatably mounted upon the shoulder shaft 68, said journal iii having a length slightly less than the shaft 69 to permit its rotation free of end binding against the frame members 61 One end of the journal 70 is provided with an enlarged head H, which provides a shoulder against which a plate wheel hub bears, the thickness of the head ii and the adjacent plate wheel 66 being such that the reel 63 is centrally positioned between the framework members 6!. The other end of the journal it is threaded to receive a nut 12 which may be turned thereon against the other plate wheel hub whereby the reel 63 is held tightly between the two plate wheels 85 and the entire unit is held tightly upon the journal iii.

A cylindrical case 13 is mounted upon the interior wall of the frame member 6| adjacent the head "H, and contains a slidable piston M, projectible as by a spring 75, to resiliently bear against the cylindrical wall of the head ii to thereby brake rotation of the reel to prevent it turning by its own momentum. It follows that a definite force, as by a pull of the ribbon, is necessary to turn the reel and in this manner the ribbon will not become slack but will remain taut throughout the unreeling operation.

The ribbon extends from the reel downwardly for a substantial distance where it is threaded around an idle roller 16 mounted upon the pivot arm ii of a cutout element 18, thence upwardly and over a second idle roller 79 whose periphery is aligned with inking roller elements hereinafter described.

The cutout element '.'8 comprises a base 86 mounted upon a framework member 6|. Suitable lugs 8| outstand this base 80 to support a horizontally disposed shaft 82 of the pivot arm Tl to permit altitudinal movement of said idle roller 76. This idle roller 76 is mounted upon a shaft 83 on the pivot arm in spaced parallelism with the shaft 82 and is normally held at an upward position above its support shaft 82 by the brake-imposed tension upon the ribbon R with said upward position suitably limited b a stop 84 on the pivot arm 71 which bears against the base member 80. The shaft 82 is cammed at the end remote of the pivot arm ll as at 82 to provide slidable movement of a follower 85 bearing against the cammed surface and associated with the actuator pin of a conventional micro-switch 86 to open said switch responsive to dropping of the pivot arm 71. The micro-switch 86 is in the power supply circuit 81 and operates to open all circuits. The drop of this pivot arm ill to open such circuits normally occurs whenever the rib bon R i completely unwound from the reel 53. In this manner the apparatus is stopped and will not operate again until a new reel of ribbon is mounted and the loose end thereof is attached to the loose end of the previously unwound ribbon whereupon the ribbon may be manually wound upon the reel until the tension lifts the arm ii to close the micro-switch 8B and start the operation anew.

The idle roller iii, mounted upon the shaft 33, is simply a flanged type spool rotatable on shaft 83 with suitable side washers 88 adapted to eliminate sideward binding. The shaft 33 is conveniently formed as a headed pin which may be inserted through the roller and Washers, thence into a socket in the pivot arm ii and locked in position by a set screw 89, all as clearly illustrated at Fig. 8.

The second idle roller 19, to which the ribbon passes from the roller i6, is of analogous construction to the roller 15, although it is mounted upon a shaft bolt 96 carried transversely of the ribbon path by the frame members iii. This roller 19 is held in alignment with the ribbon path by tubular spacers 91 mounted upon the shaft bolt 88] at each side of the roller, and is altitudinally positioned to permit its periphery at the top to be in substantial horizontal alignment with the roller peripheries of the inking apparatus I to which the ribbon passes after leaving the roller 19.

The inkin apparatus (Details Figs. 4, 9 and 10) ference from a container onto a metallic roller and thence onto the ribbon somewhat difiicult after an inking roller has operated over a period of time, for the roller surface will become polished by the ribbon and the ink will not adhere thereto and cannot be carried to the ribbon in uniform consistency, if at all. To overcome this condition, hardened and specially conditioned rollers are commonly used. The ink-feeding structure in this apparatus has avoided the necessity for specially constructed inking rolls, and the ribbon R, leaving the roller 18, is directed between a pair of inking rollers 92 formed of ordi nary metallic material. These rollers are mounted transversely of the ribbon path upon shafts 93 which are carried by journal boxes 94 at each end of the shafts. These journal boxes es are slidably held in upstanding ways 95 formed in each of the frames iii, the lower journal boxes at being fixedly held at the lower ends of said ways 95 and the upper journal boxes being adapted for altitudinal movement to compress the upper roller 92 against its lower mate.

Positive measured pressure of the upper roller against the lower roller is obtained through weighted lever arm 96 carried by a transverse head 91 pivotally attached at each end to upstanding lugs 98 of the frame members 6i above the ways 95, with the lever arm 96 outstandingly extending from the head 9'! to slidably carry a weight 99 which is adapted to be secured thereon at selected positions by a screw It!!! to acquire a given pressure to regulate the amount of ink picked up by the ribbon. The torque created by weight 99, on the arm 96, extended from the pivoted head 9?, acts through pins llll, slidably disposed above the ways 95 adjacent the pivot points of the head, to bear upon the upper journal boxes 94 and press the upper roller 92 against the lower. The pins ill! are contacted by adjusting screws H32 which are positioned at each side of the head 91, and the ad justing screws H12 permit a lateral balancing of pressure of the upper shaft 93 and its roller 92. This is necessary to force the ribbon to pass through the rollers without sidewise creeping.

An inking trough I03 is mounted beneath the rollers to catch all ink placed on the rollers which is not absorbed by the ribbon. While ink tends to pass from this trough onto the lower roller, such action is not relied on to ink the ribbon because, as before stated, the rollers tend to become polished and glazed over a period of use and the ink will not readily adhere thereto, especially under high speed operation. lherefore, an ink circulating system is provided in the present apparatus which will positively apply ink to the ribbon in a continuous stream, the excess returning to the trough. This circulating system includes a reservoir I04 suitably positioned away from other apparatus to provide ea'sy'filling thereof as through a lid I without any chance of spilling ink upon other elements. A conventional gear pump we, is operated by the motor 62 through a pulley belt arrangement here inafter described. A suitable pressure line I01 extends from this gear pump I06 to the leading face of the lower roller 92 above the trough I03. The line is! exit is formed as a horizontally fiattened nozzle I08 adapted to spray a jet of ink directly against the ribbon as it enters the rollers 92. The ink draining from the lower roller into the trough Hi3 passes into a drainline N39 to thereby return to the reservoir I04.

The ribbon R continues through the inking rollers 92 in a horizontal path, to engage an idle roller H!) which is mounted upon a shaft bolt $9 and held in position between tubular spacers iii, the idle roller I It! being similar in construction and function to the idle roller l9. The ribbon passes around this roller and is thereby turned lilodegrees and directed into a second inking unit I.

This unit 1 comprises a pair of rollers sz' mounted upon shafts 93' transverse oi the ribhon path. These shafts 83' are carried in journal boxes 94 mounted in ways 55' in the frame members i, the construction being similar to the elements hereinbefore described as to unit 1'. Further, the upper roller is compressed against the lower roller through the agencies of an arm 96 mounted upon ahead 91 pivotally suspended by lugs 98' of the frame El. This lever arm carries a weight 99 positioned selectively and there secured by a screw I60, and the torque caused thereby is balanced by pressure against pins iii! which bear against the journal boxes 94 as in the unit I. Likewise, adjusting screws H32 are provided upon the head 8? to regulate the evenness of the pressure of the upper roller 92 against its lower mate. This unit is provided with trough I03. However, no inking facilities are used in this second unit of the presently described embodiment, as a second inking is ordinarily unnecessary with any type of ribbon which readily absorbs the ink. S-hould inking on both sides be necessary, this construction provides facilities for such inking on both sides of the ribbon as the reversing of the ribbon direction around the idle roller Hi3 permits positive flow means by a nozzle similar to nozzle Hi8, and it is only necessary to provide inking supply and drain lines in the unit I.

The ribbon R, passes through the rollers 92 and in a suitable horizontally disposed direction. onto an idle roller l H which is mounted upon a shaft bolt 9!! and positioned by tubular spacers ill as is the idle roller H0. From this idle roller i l i the ribbon is directed onto other rollers and past elements comprising the ribbon spool engaging apparatus E and thence onto the ribbon winding apparatus W.

Ribbon spool engaging apparatus (Details at Figs. 4, 11-17) to interlock the unit. Another conventional type of spool S is illustrated at Fig. 49, Sheet 9, and comprises a similar cylindrical ring II3' having thereon outstanding flanges H6 and other suitable appendages I If such as are necessary for the various conventional makes of typewriter.

In all conventional spools there is provided a peripheral ribbon connecting hook H8, suitably formed as a circumferentially outstanding shank II9 ending in a pointed expanding head I253. This shank and head may be attached to the ring I I 3 in any suitable manner or may be formed as a punching lifted from the ring. In use, the end of a ribbon is engaged to the hook passing the head through a transverse slit I2I (Fig. r: in the ribbon near its end, whereby the ribbon lodges upon the shank. In the herein described embodiment the ribbon spool engaging apparatus E is adapted to out said transverse slit Iii! at an end of the ribbon R and to then direct the ribbon against the spool in such a manner as to permit the hook I It to pass into the siit, whereupon the enlarged head I 20 of the hook holds the ribbon end upon the shank M9 to permit it to be wound upon the spool, the spool being rotatably mounted upon elements hereinafter described.

The ribbon passing from the idle roller III is directed downwardly and around a small idle roller 522 which is outstandingly and rotatively secured to a frame member GI within the area included in frame 6| as upon a shaft se' in manner similar to the hereinbefore described idle roller It. The ribbon is thence directed upwardly and around an idle roller I23 mounted upon a shaft 83 carried by a tension arm I2 5, thence downward and along a pair of vertically aligned idle rollers I22 mounted on shafts 83, and thence past the cutting apparatus and onto a spool associated with the winding apparatus, both hereinafter described. 'Iheconstruction of shafts 8t and 83" is similar to that of shaft 83, Fig. 8. The idle rollers I22 are suitably spaced to permit passage of a horizontal thrust roller I25 therebetween as hereinafter described. The ribbon spool engaging meansengages the end of the ribbon, when out upon completion of the winding of a spool, forms a slit in such end for its engagement with the next spool to be wound and engages the slit end with such spool. This apparatus will now be described.

The tension arm I24 is pivotally mounted upon the frame member 6i" so that it may be swung upwardly away from the idle rollers I22 and I22, and a tension spring I 26 attached to an upper point of the arm and to an outstanding leg I2! on the frame member 6 I tends to thus draw the arm upwardly. The tension of the ribbon R normally holds the arm I24 in lowered position, but

upward movement of the arm occurs responsive to slacking of the ribbon. The tension arm accordingly functions to take up such slack and to provide tension on the ribbon at all times.

The upward movement of the arm I24 functions, first, to take up ribbon slack, as stated, and, secondly, to shut off the machine whenever the arm is raised to a position beyond which anynorma-l operative ribbon slack would occur. Thus, the arm, being associated with means to open the motor circuit 87 to shut off the motor 62, acts as a safety device responsive to abnormal conditions, as when the ribbon fails to operatively engage a spool.

The pivotal mounting of arm I24 is upon a shaft I28 which extends through and beyond the frame GI'. and thre carries a face cam I29.

Of" or) Adjacent the face cam I29 there is mounted, upon the frame member 6|, a bracket I30 carrying a micro-switch I3I in series with the motor circuit 81" whose actuating pin is associated with a follower I32. This follower is slidably mounted within a lug I33 upstanding from the bracket 38, and the actuating pin of the micro-switch I3! resiliently holds the follower !32 against the face cam I253. The follower I32 functions to actuate the pin of the micro-switch I3I to open the motor circuit 81 as step I34 in the face cam I29 moves past the follower, said step I34 being arcuately disposed to permit the tension arm to lift sufficiently to take up normal ribbon slack before contacting the follower to open the circuit 8?.

The thrust roller I25 is adapted to move between the two idle rollers I22 to carry the ribbon with it as at Figs. 42-43 and thereby impart a reverse pull to the ribbon as the spool engaging apparatus E and the ribbon cutting apparatus C become operative to cut the ribbon and engage the end to an unwound spool as later described. This roller is mounted upon a shaft I35 in guide I36, which carries an outstanding lug I3? slidable between two ways I33 on the frame BI".

An actuator shaft I39 extends from the guide through, and is slidable in, a pair of journals i it outstanding the frame 6 I and a solenoid MI between the journals. This shaft is formed of two different materials suitably joined together. The rear portion I39 extends beyond the journal most distant from the guide I36, and is of a magnetic responsive material, while the forward portion I39, adjacent the guide I36, and normally within the solenoid I4 I, is of non-magnetic material, whereby the energizing of the solenoid MI by a circuit, hereinafter described, causes the rear portion I39 of the shaft to be drawn into the solenoid thereby forwardly extending the thrust roller I25.

The forward movement of the shaft E39 is limited by a collar Hi2, affixed to the shaft I39, which strikes the face of the adjacent journal I46. Collar I42 carries a cam I43 adapted to strike and iift a roller Mt located at the outer end of an actuating arm I45 of a micro-switch I46, suitably mounted upon the frame 6|. Thelifting of the roller I44 and the arm I45 by cam Hi3 closes a circuit Hill of the micro-switch M6, which is associated with those mechanisms which act to thread the ribbon onto a spool subsequent to the movement of the thrust roller I25 as hereinafter described.

The actual transference of the cut end of the ribbon onto the hook III of an empty spool is accomplished through a needle I 48, which extends from a hub Hi9 which is swingably mounted, as by a pin I50, upon a rocker arm I5I. The rocker arm, in turn, is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the frame member it! by a shaft I52, which extends through and beyond the frame member and there carries a crank arm 53. The arm IE3 is linked with mechanisms, hereinafter described, to tilt the rocker arm toward the ribbon winding apparatus and into a field of action during the operation of engaging the ribbon. This tilting movement is limited by an adjustable stop I54 on frame ti A hooked detent i55 is pivotally mounted upon the frame GI above the shaft I52 and is resiliently held in a selected downward position by a spring I5t and an adjustable stop Eel. This 11 detent IE is adapted to momentarily contact an outstanding lug I58 eccentrically positioned upon the hub I49 to rotate the hub and thereby raise the needle M8 as it moves past the. detent 555 during the tilting movement of the rocker arm I5I, counter-clockwise from the position shown at Fig, 11. This rotation of the hub and lifting of the needle led permits the needle to slidingly contact the under side of the ribbon between the lower roller I22 and the cutting device later described. The needle M8 is resiliently held in either the normal or the lifted position by a spring I59 which connects an eccentric post 52 on hub M8 and a similar post 453i on rocker arm 'ibi. When theneedle is down in normal position, as shown at Fig. 11, the posts are so offset that the spring is at one side of the pin its and thereby holds the needle in said lowered position. When the rocker arm 55! is tilted and the needle M28 is lifted the post its shifts the spring to the opposite side of the pin see to exert a pull which holds the needle in said raised position. Suitable stops E62 are positioned on the rocker arm IN to provide limits for the downward and upward movements of the needle.

In the upwardly extended position the needle M8 is canted against and slidingly contacts the ribbon, and picks up theribbon after it is out and its movement reversed by extension of the thrust roller i252, all as illustrated at Figs. ll and 4.2. Next, the needle is shifted downwardly and against a spool S to thread the ribbon onto a hook US as illustrated at Fig. 43. A solenoid 1 Hi3 is pivotally mounted upon an outstanding arm its of rocker arm i555 and carries an armature i 55 connected to an arm F56 on the hub 5 39 by a shaft 56?. This armature is adapted to move through the solenoid I83 to lower the needle and effect said downward shifting when-.

ever the solenoid isenergiaed. This solenoid is connected with the micro-switch Hit through the circuit t ll, with the result that the downward movement occurs subsequent to the extension of the thrust roller i25 and after the needle Mil has engaged the ribbon R.

The needle i 38 is'formed of acomparatively thin strip. of hardened material having a width corresponding to the ribbon width. The point is formed as a sharpened spearhead ltd outstanding from the needle and narrower than the needle width, but having a width sufficient to properly. out the transverse ribbon slit I2 I. This cutting of the slit iii occurs when the needle is lifted upwardly with the'spearhead lee bearing 50f the needle i ld. Suitable recesses it are provided at-each side of this base to assist in retaining the ribbon end thereon until it is transferred onto a spool. This needleis inwardly arched at the hcad portion llbto provide a suitable space wherethrough the point of a hook H3 of a spool S may pass in its movement to connect with the ribbon and remove the ribbon from the needle in a manner clearly illustrated at Fig. 47. In'opera- 12 Ribbon cutting apparatus The ribbon cutting apparatus C is operatively interposed between the ribbon spool engaging apparatus and the ribbon winding apparatus W and is adapted to sever the ribbon from a wound spool at the same instant the thrust roller I25 moves forward to reverse the ribbon movement to thread the cut end of the ribbon upon the needle Hit as hereinbefore described. The cutting apparatus C is mounted upon an arm lIS which is pivotally attached to a frame member BI by a bolt H lto swing in a horizontal plane into and out of cutting alignment responsive to a pull or push of a rod I associated with elements hereinafter described. To carry the cutting apparatus the end of the arm is provided with a horizontally disposed base plate I16 with a shaft I71 extending therefrom. The cutter is of a shear type having one blade I78 fixed and extending from the base plate I15 and one blade I18 movable and extending from an arm W9 rotatably mounted on the shaft Il'I, said shear formed by the blades I78 and I'lfi being aligned transverse of the ribbon when the arm I13 is in cutting position. The blades I13 and H8 are formed of hardened material and are adjustably held in position by suitable bolts I85. To attain a tight shearing contact and to hold the arm I'lll against the abutment formed by the juncture of the shaft 1?! and the base plate I16, a spring IE5! is threaded upon the outstanding end of the shaft ill and is resiliently forced against the arm I19 and held thereagainst by a washer nut i82 atthe end of the shaft ill. Another spring I83 is connected with a lug ltd outstanding from the base plate fit anola stud I85 on the arm 5'59 to resiliently hold the shear blades H8 and I'lB' in a normally closed position.

A peripheral cam We is mounted at oneside of the arm H9 and is' adapted to. bear against the tip of a guide I8! to thereby lift and open the blade H8 as the arm [i3 moves into cutting position, the apparatus being adapted to move these open blades Hi8 and IIB to each side of 1 the ribbon to thereby effect a severance by their closure. The closure occurs suddenly with the blades in position transverse of the ribbon tion it is necessary to use a needle of hardened material, and the needlel48 is provided with a slot I?! at its base end to permit it to be adthrough the ridge I88 of the cam its sliding off the tip of the guide I37.

ing the ridge H88 is preferably. of hardened material held on the head H9 as by bolts 18%), as shown at Fig. 28;

V The guide it? comprises a rocker armpivotally mounted upon thefrarne ti" as by bolt M9.

The guide arm opposite the contact tip is adapted to bear against an abutment I943 to remain stationary as the arm I 73 moves the blades H8 and 'Illi to cutting position wherebythe cam ltd A radially disposedface cam N12 is mounted:

upon the armll's adjacent the peripheral cam Hit, and is operative with'rotation of thearm I19 to extend or retracta follower I93 which is mounted upon the base plate I76 in an upstanding lug 194. This follower I93 is connected with the actuator, pinof a mi'cro-switch I95 also Because of the nature of the movement of the cam, the portion'form- 13 mounted on the base plate I16, and is operative to close the circuit I96 of the switch I95 with the shear blades closed, and to open the circuit I96 with the shear blades raised as through a step I91 on the face cam I92.

The circuit I96 is connected in series with the solenoid I4I hereinbefore described, and is also in series with another micro-switch I98 in the camming portions of the apparatus as hereinafter described. In operation th micro-switch I95 is normally closed and is adapted to be opened by lifting the blade I18 while micro-switch I98 is normally open, and is adapted to be closed subsequent to lifting the blade 19 and to remain closed for a short period after the blade I18 drops to cut the ribbon whereby the circuit I96 is closed to energize the solenoid MI and extent the thrust roller I25 at that instant subsequent to the cu ting of the ribbon by the blade I18. The circuit is adapted to remain closed only for a short period of time as hereinafter described.

Ribbon winding apparatus The ribbon is wound upon a spool S (Fig. 45) mounted upon a rotating spindle I99 (Fig. 20) of a rotatable shifting head 299, and through the agency of said shifting head, the spindle is positioned at various stations to accomplish the steps (illustrated at Figs. 39 to 44) of placing a spool thereon, threading, winding and cutting the ribbon and discharging the wound spool therefrom. It is desirable tohave a plurality of spindles I99 upon the shifting head 299 to permit a spool to althe ends of which the spindles I99 extend outwardly of the cover face through suitable journaled openings 299 in the cover and in the base. At the opposite face of the shifting head, at the central axis, a hollow shaft 205 extends from the base 29I and is mounted in a journal 296 of a frame member BI, which rotatably carries the shifting head, the shaft 205 being in spaced parallelism with the spindles I99. The journal 206 is in two portions with an opening between and in the central open space an indexing head 291 is secured to the shaft 295 for rotation therewith.

This indexing head comprises a sleeve 298 having a disc 299 at one end. The disc is provided with four seats ZIE! on its periphery which are arranged in diametric pairs, each being adapted to permit the two diametrically opposed spindles to be set in four given sequential positions through a roller arm 2H ona detent 2I2 falling into one of the seats. This detent 2 I2 is pivotally attached to the frame member 6I and carries the roller arm 2 atits outward end in spaced parallelism with the spindle axis whereby the roller is adapted to ride the disc 299 periphery and to fall into each of the seats 2) as they successively move into registration with the roller arm 2 I I. A spring H3 is mounted upon the detent 2I2 to hold the roller arm positively against the disc 299.

Rotation of the shifting head 290 and the indexing head 201 mounted thereon is effected through a gear head 2 I4 rotatably mounted upon a capping washer 2I5, held, as by screws 2I6, against the end of the sleeve 298 opposite disc 299. A friction disc 2I1, of material such as fibre, is interposed at each side of the gearhead to bear against the disc 299 and washer 2I5. A positive uniform pressure is exerted by these discs through a plurality of compression springs 2I8 mounted in suitable recesses 2I9 of the gearhead 2M and the indexing head 291 to permit slippage of gear 2 I4 when the indexing head is locked in position by the detent 2 I 2.

The gearhead 2M is formed as a spur gear 220 which is driven at a uniform rate of rotation by elements hereinafter described, and a lift pin 2ft suitably disposed alongside the disc 299 to contact and lift the roller 2 from a seat ZIt in the course of its rotation. It follows that the operation of the shifting head and the indexing head attached thereto is by rotation of the gearhead 2M but with the shifting head remaining stationary and in a locked position through the agency of the detent 2 I 2 for certain periods regulated by the lift pin 22I, during which periods slippage occurs at the discs 2H. Whenever the lift pin 22I disengages the detent roller arm 2!! from a seat 2H), the shifting head rotates with the gearhead until the detent 2I2 drops in the next following seat 2!!) to again halt the movement of the shifting head.

The spindle driving mechanisms comprise a shaft 222 mounted in the hollow shaft 299 with one end extending beyond the shaft 2st to carry a pinion which is driven by other elements hereinafter described. The other end of the shaft 222 extends into the shifting head and carries a gear 22:1 thereon, which is connected to pinions 225 on the spindle shafts I99 through suitable idle gears 229, said idlers being symmetrically disposed in the head 299 to provide a uniform rate of rotation of the pinions 225 on the spindles.

The rotation rate of the spindles must necessarily vary from a maximum, as the ribbon com-- mences to wind upon the spool, to a minimum the ribbon becomes fully wound, for the ribbon is necessarily fed to the spools uniformly in its passage through the inking rollers 92 and 92. However, the rate of rotation of the pinions 225 is constant by virtue of the arrangement of driving mechanisms hereinafter described, and it fol lows that slippage must occur between the pinions 225 and the spindles I99. Further, with slippage, the rate of rotation of the pinions 225 must be sufficient to attain a slight excess of the maximum desirable speed to keep the ribbons fully taut in winding. The pinions 225 are rotatably mounted upon the spindle shaft 599 between a flanged collar 221, integral of the shaft I99, and a collar 223 slidable upon the shaft i99 and held thereto as by a set screw 22 9, with fibre discs 239 between the abutting surfaces. Suitable compression springs 23! are circumferentially interposed in the collar 22'! to hold the discs against the pinion i with even uniform pressure to impose a frictional force between the pinion 225 and the spindle shaft E99. A pin 232 is set into the collar 22? and adjacent fibre disc 239 to prevent its rotation about the disc and thus eliminate unreasonable wear which would result from dragging of the disc 239 against the ends of the compression springs 23%.

The construction of the elements associated with the spindle I99 necessarily depends upon the type ofspool being used, and in view of this condition the spindle shaft, herein designated as i921, is adapted for various attachments, and comprises a hollow member mounted in the shifting head 2% and is'thereby adapted to carry said attachments through the hollow interior. For the spool S of Fig. 45, this attachment comprises a hollow tube 233 threaded at one end and carrying an'enlarged hollow mandrel 23 at the other end. The threaded end is adapted for insertion through the spindle shaft 599 and secured therein by a nut 235.

The mandrel diameter is such as to permit a ring lit to be sliclably positioned thereover and the outer periphery is provided with longitudinal grooves 236 to permit the inwardly turned ends ii oilthe ring iii to fit therein at any position of the rotating mandrel, and to become locked in such position. This mandrel 23 is further modified by longitudinal openings 23! through which the spokes 2-33 of a guiding disc i239 extend to a hub 2 interiorly oi the mandrel, the guidingdisc 239 being adapted to hold the ribbon evenly upon the spool and to eject a wound spool as hereinafter described. The disc 23% is carried by the hub 24H as by suitable bolts 2 3i, and the unit is adapted for axial movement over the mandrel, the spokes being guided by the openings 23?. To hold this disc 233 normal to the spindle axis, the hub 25s is attached to a stem 2%2 slidable in the interior portion of the tube 232. A spring M5 is attached to the interior end of the stem 2% and to the threaded end of the :uoe

explained, to permit a continuous cycle of operation. At that position which might be considered an initial position for such cycle of operation, an emp y spindle is moved opposite the spoolfeeding apparatus F to receive therefrom a spool S, which is pushed onto'a mandrel 23 5 with the spool beingso oriented that the head or" the hook i523 thereon is pointed in the direction of rotation to properly pick up the ribbon as illustrated at i'l. This apparatus comprises in essences. pnnger 2&5 slidably positioned within a tubular carrier 2 .6 attached to the base as by frame members 5 i. The plunger 2% is aligned in spaced parallelism with the spindles I99 and in alignment therewith atthe' position of registration. The enact the plunger 2455 remote of the spindles cxtendsoutwardly from the'carrier 2% and is provided with a stub 2 5? which is connected to a link 2&8, said link being in turn connected to a rocker arm 249 pivotally mounted, as by a bolt 25E, upon a bracketifiil upstanding from the carrier 2&6. Thisrocker arm M9 is actuated through a push rod 2 52 which in turn is connected with other mechanisms hereinafter described.

The plunger 2&5 is cylindrical in form and of the same diameter as a spool ring H3, and is provided with a tubular recess 253 at the thrus end which has a diameter such that the end of a mandrel 23 2 will slidingly' move therein, This recess 253 is normally end-closed by a piston 25 5' slot 25'!" to thereby 111111) the pistonrmovement through a pin 25% inserted in the plunger 2&5 which extends inwardly into the slot.

To feed the spools into this carrier a supply clip 255i is suitably attached near the forwarding end of the carrier 2% to extend therefrom upwardly and outwardly of other elements in any desirable manner to provide a gravity feed, and said clip 259 may be of any length to accommodate a desired number of spools. This clip is'simply formed of two side members 256 and end members it! to provide a rectangular tubularpassage slightly greater in width than a spool diameter, but not sufiicient to permit misadjustment of a spool which is placed therein with the hook H8 suitably disposed at the top. This clip 25%} may be charged by hand or by any suitable device which permits the proper insertion of a group of spools and is adapted to feed successively the spools to the plunger while regulating their movement by a stop pin 282 which is inserted into the clip'near its discharge point. 'Pin 262 is mounted upon a base 263 extending above the carrier 2st and. is adapted to resiliently retract itself from the clip by 'a spring 2% carried upon the stop pin be tween an enlarged end shoulder 26% thereon and the base 263. The movement permitting retraction of this pin 252 occurs through an offset bell crank 266 having one arm bearing against the shoulder 255. ably mounted in a frame 267 upstanding from the carrier 2 frame and the central portion comprises a shaft 26% positioned transversely of the plunger. The remote end Esta of the bell crank bears against the rocker arm i la'and l8 movement or" this rocker arm toextend the plunger 2 3i; is such that the bell crank lever 2% drops to extend the stop pin" 26? from the clip 25a and drop a spool upon the extended plunger. into position to be caught by' the pin 2 52 as it re-enters the clip, and to permit the freed spool to drop into an aligned position with the, plunger 7 inside the carrier interior as the plunger is fully' retracted to its normal position. Separate means for stopping the machine when the clip runs out of spools are not necessary because this is accomplished through the movement of the ribbon spool-engaging apparatus, as the failure the spool-engaging apparatus to contact the spool permits a ribbon slack to such a degree that the tension arm ti l will lift beyond its operative limit to shut oir the machine as previousthe wound spools are discharged from the mandrels 23d. This discharge is accomplished by moving a guidingdiscjtd outwardly to the end of its mandrel and thereby pushingofi the spool.

The apparatus which moves the guiding discs is a 1 mounted upon a bar 269 which is carried above the base to as by pins are alongside the shifting head Zllalandin spaced parallelism with the spindle axes, said pin engaging the bar in elongate slots 2H to thereby permit 'slidable shifting movement of said bar on the pins 216; A structural angle member 272 is attached to this bar at the end adjacent to the shifting head, as with screws in, the upright leg of whichis The bell crank 26% is suita This permits a second spool to drop a adapted to carry a pin 2', pivotally connecting the bar 259 withan actuating link 2T5 associated with other mechanisms, hereinafter described, which operate to extend the bar 269.

At the end of the bar 259 and on the angle base 212 adjacent the shifting head Mil, there is a pivotally mounted semi-ring 21E; transversely of the spindle axes and positioned to slidingly engage the face of a guiding disc as the bar is pushed outwardly to extend the guiding disc. The pivotal mounting comprises a pin 21? at the side of the semi-ring 27% which engages a lug 2l8 upstanding from the base of the angle member 212, and is adapted to lower the semi-ring out of the way as the shifting head 29% rotates to change positions. The semi-ring 276 is resiliently held in operative position by a spring 279 suitably connected to the leg of the angle member 212 and the semi-ring.

The dicharge of the wound spools through the extension of the above-described apparatus is into a semi-circular trough 286 which is mounted upon the base ill outwardly of the spindle position to receive a plurality of spools with the discharge of a given spool pushing previously discharged spools into the trough and away from the machine.

The actuating and cumming apparatus (Figs. 1, 2, 1s, 19 and 48) The actuation of the inking, spool engaging, ribbon cutting, ribbon winding, spool feeding and spool discharging apparatuses is by a motor 62 and various solenoids herebefore described. The circuit 81 comprises a motor circuit 31 connected in series with micro-switches [3i and 28! which operate as shut-off elements should any undesirable condition occur, the switch 28! being hereinafter described. A general, manually operated, shut-off switch 282 is also provided to open or close both circuits Bl, 8'1, Ml and I96. It is desirable to maintain the circuits It? and I96 at a lower voltage than the circuit 81; therefore, these circuits are conveniently stepped down in voltage by a transformer 283, with the circuits I l? and I95 connected with the secondary of said transformer in parallel and with the primary of transformer 283 and the circuit 87' in parallel in circuit 81. Should the voltage in the circuit I96 be such that the solenoid actuation is too strong, a suitable resistor 284 may be placed therein in series. Likewise, a resistor 235 may be placed in series in circuit Ml.

The motor is provided with a pulley 2:36 Which carries a belt 23? around pulleys 288 on the gear pump tilt and on the lower shaft 93' of the inking unit I. The opposite side of the lower shaft 93' is geared with the upper shaft 93 through suitable spur gears 233 to thereby drive both shafts synchronously. The upper shaft 93 carries a sprocket 296' at the side opposite the gears 289' which is connected to a sprocket 290 on the lower shaft 93 of the unit I through a chain 29!.

Spur gears 239 drive the upper and lower shafts 93 of the unit I synchronously and at the same rate as the shafts of the unit I and by this arrangement, uniform passage of the ribbon therethrough is assured.

Adjacent the sprocket 280 on the lower shaft 93, there is provided a sprocket 292 from which a chain 293 extends downwardly to a sprocket 294 which is mounted upon the master drive shaft 295 of the apparatus to rotate the same. This master drive shaft; 295 is held by suitable journaled frame members 3! in spaced parallelism with the inking shafts and other rotative elements, and is provided with two pinions to operate two trains of gear mechanisms and a crank 295 for manual adjustments. One pinion 29? is directly aiiixed to the shaft 295 to drive an idler gear 29% carried by a fixed shaft are held in a suitable frame member 6!. This idler gear in turn drives a pinion 3th of a speed increaser element rotatably mounted upon a shaft 3E! which actuates other gears hereinafter described; the large gear 302, of the increaser element, comprising the pinion 3th and gear 3592, is connected with the pinion 228 on the spindledriving shaft 222 hereinbefore described. The ratio of the gears in this train determines the amount of ribbon which is Wound upon a spool.

The second pinion 333 on the master drive shaft 255 is rotatably and slidably mounted thereon and is provided with a head 3M which abuts a similar head 5M on the pinion 229i, and circumferential grooves with suitable recesses tilt, in the abutting faces of the heads 3% and 3M, carry balls 3% between the heads. The heads are held together by a spring till mounted between a collar 383 on the shaft 295 and the side of the pinion 3% opposite the head are whereby, with the balls in the recesses 335, the pinions 29b and 383 turn together. However, should the pinion 39.? be held from turning in any manner, as by jamming of the machine, the balls 385 lift from the recesses 305 to shift the pinion 393 along the shaft 295, and slippage then'occurs between'the two pinions.

A washer 399 is interposed between the springv 3t! and the pinion tea which contacts a finger 3H3 associated with the actuating pin of the microswitch 28! to open said switch and circuit 81 to stop the motor 62 as separation of the heads tilt occurs, so that a jamming of certain mechanisms will not cause damage to the unit through a continuation of the driving torque.

The pinion 363 is connected with a gear 3H of a speed reducer element which is connected to a shaft 3 I 2 suitably mounted in a journaled member 6i which carries elements hereinafter de' scribed. The pinion 3S3 of the reducer formed by the gears 3| 5 and M3 is further connected with a gear 314! connected to the shaft till whereon the increaser element, comprising the pinion tilt and gear 362, is rotatably mounted. At the other end of the shaft Sill there is a pinion 3E5 connected thereto, and to the spur gear 22s on the gear head 2M hereinbefore described.

The shaft 3!!! carries a worm 3N3 which drives a wheel 3!? mounted upon a shaft Bit by suitable journaled members 65, said shaft 315 being transverse of and above the drive shaft 235, This shaft is geared to rotate one revolution with the discharge of each spool and carries a plurality of disc-shaped cams 319, 32G, 325 and 322 (Figs. 34-37) to actuate mechanisms hereinbefore described, and a fixed shaft 323 is positioned below and at each side of the shaft 358 inspaced parallelism therewith to provide mounts for the cam followers hereinafter described.

The cam 3H3 adjacent the wheel 3!? has in scribed in its face a groove 32 wherein a roller 325 is rotatably positioned, said roller being held upon a follower 326 to thereby guide the follower movement according to the groove This follower is formed as a simple lever mounted upon the outer fixed shaft 323 in an upstanding position with the top thereof connected to the push rod 252 of the spool feeding apparatus; 

